TruLeaf Grows Team With Addition of CFO and Two New Strategic Advisors

Truro, N.S. – TruLeaf is wrapping up 2015 with a firm eye on its future. It is pleased to announce the addition of Jeff McKinnon as a Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer, and Martin Jamieson and Pete Luckett as new investors and strategic advisors. Jamieson will also be the newest addition to TruLeaf’s Board of Directors. Additionally, the company is now testing systems for nutrients, water, and lighting at its facility in Truro, Nova Scotia: a first round of trial seeding will follow.

New to the TruLeaf team is Jeff McKinnon, who joins the company as Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer. From Halifax, Jeff completed his Masters of Business Administration, the Certified Management Accountant program and is currently a CPA. Jeff has worked in a variety of roles including finance in a publicly traded company, where, for more than 15 years, he held both senior and executive leadership positions – most recently as a Vice President at Credit Union Atlantic.

The company also welcomes two new strategic advisors: Pete Luckett and Martin Jamieson. Luckett is best known for Pete’s Frootique and Luckett Vineyards, both staples in the local agriculture and business communities. He brings with him vast food retailing experience as well as his culinary expertise and energetic personality. Jamieson comes to TruLeaf with more than 30 years of experience in the global food industry. He was previously an Executive Vice President at Loblaw Companies, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Nutrition. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Food Marketing Management. Martin has a true passion for driving innovation in food and growing brands, and businesses in the international food industry.

“The new additions to TruLeaf really round out the team,” said Gregg Curwin, President and CEO of TruLeaf. “Each member brings to the table invaluable expertise in their field; Jeff with his extensive experience in strategy, finance and operations; Pete with his extensive knowledge of agriculture and cuisine; Martin with his substantial expertise in the food and nutrition industries.”

GoodLeaf Farms, a wholly owned subsidiary of TruLeaf, uses advanced vertical farming technology to produce ultra-fresh leafy greens 365 days a year. The company produces the greens in a clean and safe indoor environment that allows GoodLeaf to eliminate the need for pesticides. Due to the local production of the greens, GoodLeaf ‘s goal is to have the delicious leafy greens hand-packed, and on customers’ plates within hours of harvesting them, at peak freshness and nutrition levels.

“People love the taste of fresh food, especially when you can tell it’s been picked that day. Unfortunately, that hasn’t always been possible in Atlantic Canada, until now,” said Pete Luckett. “With GoodLeaf Farms, people in Atlantic Canada will no longer have to wait up to a week for leafy greens to come from California. They can have fresh and superior, local food within days of it being picked, all year long.”

GoodLeaf’s retail brand, ‘Market Garden’, will be in full launch by January 2016. GoodLeaf’s ‘Greens and Herbs’ product line will also launch in January for wholesale customers. More information about ‘Market Garden’ will be announced in the New Year.

“We’re very eager to launch this new retail brand,” said Martin Jamieson. “I can’t say much right now, but GoodLeaf will have more exciting news in the New Year about where its new product line-up can be purchased.”

TruLeaf is a revolutionary company that improves predictability in agriculture. Using its Smart Plant Systems® technology, it creates efficient, controlled, indoor farms that can be located anywhere, from the heart of an urban centre, to areas with harsh climates or remote locations. Its team includes world-leading expertise in plant science, environmental control, new product development, marketing and supply chain management. GoodLeaf Farms is the exclusive Canadian licensee of the Smart Plant System®.